Hi, I am new here and have talked to about 6 different floor people and have gotten about the same number of different advices about how to install wood floors over concrete. Even though I have been told by half of them that we could go with a thinner solid (BR-111), I have decided on an engineered product due to this message board.

But now here is my question. Most of the people have said I should glue it down, but one person has recommended floating. Our concrete is at grade level, and we don't have room to install a subfloor on top. We live in Tucson. (The concrete was probably put down in the late '40s, and currently we have carpet over it so I don't know its condition).

So, do we float? do we glue? Any help would greatly be appreciated. The "float" guy said he would glue the seams and they guarantee their work.

And on another subject, is BR-111 triangulo engineered the best way to go? We are interested in either Brazillian Cherry or Santos Mahogany.

THANK YOU!!!!

Glue would be the preferred method

Thanks. Can you tell me whether the Bostics Best is good enough? Or do we need to seal as well.

you would need a moisture test done and then if the levels are acceptable use bostiks MVP as a moisture barrier then glue with BEST. Is this DIY or are you having a contractor install the floor? You should follow BR-111 guidelines and when in doubt you can call them.

I am not going to do this as a DIY project. I am going to hire someone, but everyone I have asked has told me that I should do it a different way (very frustrating). Obviously we are trying to keep the install price down, but we want a quality job since we will be investing a lot in this.

Are we better off hiring an installer and buying the product from somewhere else? Even if not, I feel like I need to know exactly what I want the installers to do.

Your feedback is so helpful. Thank you. (and yes, we've decided on the santos from br-111).

Definately engineered is the way to go over concrete and saying that glue down is the way to go. From reading this site the steps I would take is to get a moisture test, prep the floor and make sure it is flat which is different than level, put down MVP or another moisture barrier, than the glue. If the installer tell you other wise than I would look into a different installer. Most installer wont install solid over concrete no matter has thin the solid is and engineer is more stable than solid. The br-111 triangulo line is a good line with a 1/8 inch wear layer which if you look at the solid of the same thickness you can only refinish so much until you hit the tongue which is around 1/8 inch for a 9/16 solid. Hope this helps

Make sure you check variation from carton to carton, in all cartons, before you lay that first board!!!!!!!!!! Each carton has had a different color, on the last 2 BR-111 santos jobs I have done.

Some of the color variation may not look like the sample at all.